Lancer players were recognized with Metro League honors and individual awards at their team dinner on Nov. 21. Courtesy photo

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lancers held their annual post-season awards banquet on Friday, Nov. 21 inside the Hagan Park Community Center as they honored the players for all the hard work they put in this football season. 

Dinner and drinks were provided to the players, coaches and supporters in attendance as both the junior varsity and varsity teams paid tribute to the players who put on a Lancer uniform this fall. Each coach stood up and made remarks about their thoughts on the season and how players at each position group contributed throughout in what was a well-received event. The team finished 3-7 overall, including a 1-4 mark in Metro League play. For varsity head coach JP Dolliver, being able to recognize the players for their efforts is vital. 

"I think it's important to culminate the season in one evening because of all the time we ask out of these guys and their families," Lancers head coach JP Dolliver said after the event. "It's important to appreciate them. I know it's just a piece of paper, it's a patch or it's an award, but to these kids it's a recognition of their effort and everything we ask them to put in."

Head coach JP Dolliver speaks to attendees during the awards banquet. Courtesy photo

On varsity, the first awards given out were to players who made the All-Metro League First and Second Team, along with an Honorable Mention. First Team honors went to junior quarterback Trey Wallace, as well as junior running back Zachary McIntire. Second Team honors were given to senior wide receiver Damajae Moses as well as senior offensive/defensive lineman Ryker Woolfe. Senior wide receiver Carnell Jones received an Honorable Mention for his contributions as well. League awards are voted on by the other coaches within the Metro League, and Dolliver loved to see what the rest of the league thought of his players. 

"It's cool because they know their names and they've watched film on them," Dolliver said when asked about seeing his players recognized by the other coaches in the league. "When other guys are watching film on your guys it's something pretty cool. That to me is really, really important."

The team handed out its own individual awards thereafter, with Wallace receiving both the Team MVP and Offensive Player of The Year recognition, with the dual honors being something the team rarely does. Wallace, who accounted for 1,528 combined passing and rushing yards along with 15 total touchdowns, has been vastly important to the Lancers' offensive approach during his time on varsity. 

Trey Wallace, Zachary McIntire, Ryker Woolfe and Damajae Moses all earned Metro League honors this fall. Courtesy photo

"It's really not about how special he was," Dolliver said. "It's more about how intrical and crucial he was to our play. If we didn't have him, we simply couldn't operate the same way. Whether that's a coaching issue or not getting somebody else up to speed that's one thing, but you see on Saturdays and Sundays that when you take the quarterback out of certain games, teams look completely different. That was the way it was for us. He's just a really hard kid to replicate because he's so dynamic."

Other awards were presented as follows: Defensive Player of the Year went to junior Zachary McIntire; Ironman of the Year to senior Damajae Moses; the Dominate the Line Award to senior Ryker Woolfe; Breakout Player honors to senior Mason Gibbons and junior Paul Hicks; Rising Star to sophomore Justin Min; and the 4C’s Award — recognizing commitment, courage, compassion and confidence — to junior Terryn “TK” King. Congratulations to all the award winners and the entire Lancers team on another exciting football season.